NAKHON RATCHASIMA, THAILAND – An empty fuel tanker averted a major explosion after slamming into a paper truck and turning Highway 304 into a smoke-filled hazard zone on Thursday morning.
Crash on dangerous mountain curve
The collision occurred at around 10:30 a.m. near kilometer marker 243 on the winding stretch between Nakhon Ratchasima and Kabin Buri, a section known as hazardous. A trailer truck fully loaded with paper rolls was travelling ahead when a tanker truck behind it was unable to stop in time on an uphill gradient. The tanker tore open the rear of the paper truck with full force, and the impact immediately triggered an intense fire.
Empty tanker prevents wider catastrophe
Fire crews from the Hook-31 Foundation arrived to find two burned-out truck wrecks blocking the road. The tanker driver suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital, where his condition was reported as stable.
“Fortunately the tank was empty. He had just come from a gas station in Khon Kaen and was on his way to Rayong to pick up new fuel,”
said a police spokesman. Investigators said a full load could have caused a devastating explosion across the mountain range.
Firefighters battle intense blaze
The recovery and firefighting operation was described as extremely difficult, with units from the Udom Sap and Phu Luang districts deployed to the scene. Crews fought the flames for over 30 minutes using a mixture of water and foam as the heat built up to extreme levels.
“This was one of the most severe vehicle fires in this region in recent months,”
said an exhausted paramedic by phone.
Highway 304 choked by long tailbacks
The crash had severe consequences for traffic along Highway 304, one of Thailand’s key east–west corridors. Vehicles heading toward Kabin Buri backed up for kilometres, forcing police to open a contraflow lane to gradually ease the congestion. The route was only fully reopened after more than an hour, costing many long-distance drivers valuable time.
Police probe driver fatigue and defects
Police in Udom Sap launched an investigation while the injured tanker driver, still in shock, was able to give an initial statement. The paper truck sustained damage mainly to its rear and wheels, but its driver was not injured. Investigators were examining whether fatigue-related driving or a technical defect led to the serious failure to maintain a safe distance, calling the crash a warning to all professional drivers on Thailand’s demanding mountain roads.